CORVALLIS -- A tale of two Cal teams rolls into Reser Stadium this weekend, and while it’s anyone’s guess which version of the Bears will show up, Oregon State coach Mike Riley said he is preparing for their best shot.

“We have to expect every team’s best,” Riley said. “This Cal team has been really dominant at times this year … I think they’re really talented physically, and they’ve played some awfully good football.”

Riley is right about the Berkeley school: The Bears have been perfect at home, delivering knockout punches to UCLA (a 35-7 win) and this past weekend to Arizona State (50-17 win). But Cal (4-3, 2-2 Pac-10) has struggled on the road, getting handled at Nevada 52-31 and two weeks ago falling apart at USC in a 48-14 loss.

Riley and the Beavers regrouped in Corvallis Sunday night for a late practice at the Truax Indoor Center after using the bye weekend to travel home (players) or hit the recruiting trail (assistant coaches). Riley stayed behind to do in-depth video analysis, and said that OSU has a game plan for how it will move on without top production player James Rodgers, who was lost to a season-ending knee injury two weeks ago at Arizona.

“We’ve solidified the depth chart at receiver,” said Riley, explaining that Aaron Nichols and Darrell Catchings will take over at flanker, Markus Wheaton and Geno Munoz will fill in at split end, and Jordan Bishop and Kevin Cummings will take the slot back position.

“We’ve gotta make everybody step up,” Riley said. “I feel good about this team. I’ve seen dramatic improvement on their offensive production, and I think if we keep working on that we’re gonna be fine.”

Jacquizz Rodgers said last week that everyone would see “a new me” the second half of the season, and promised to “take my game to another level.” While the junior running back has yet to hit his 2009 average of 110 yards per game -- Rodgers is currently averaging 103 -- Riley said he’s happy with his star.

“I think he’s played great,” Riley said. “I think we’ll hopefully get better blocking as we go, and grow more in the offensive line to make a few more holes for him.”

Riley was surprised to arrive at the Valley Center Sunday and find tents lined up all around Reser for student hoping to get tickets to the game this weekend; they go on sale today at 7 a.m. Students were camped out everywhere, including Riley’s parking spot.

Notes: Riley said James Rodgers’ surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left knee has been scheduled for Thursday … Because most players have class all day Monday OSU will take today off and return to the practice field on Tuesday.